[Greg45acp]

The Springfield forgings are from Brazil. I prefer the Springer over the S&W because I greatly prefer internal extractors over external extractors. Problems with internal extractors can be addressed by non-gunsmiths but there is little to nothing us common folk can do with external extractors. Having said that, S&W figured out how to do external extractors the right way years ago so they have few issues. Still, I like to have the option to tune my extractors as I desire.

S&W had not figured out external extractors back when they were making their 3rd gen pistols in calibers larger than 9mm. I shipped 4 of my pistols back to them for failures to extract issues. They never got any of them working to a level that I trusted them very much. I sold those guns.

As you state, the owner of a decent 1911 with an internal extractor can get them running great.